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The debate over setup and take down, verses observatory operation, is just about a degree of difficulty and cost.
An observatory is a significant investment (even if you build it yourself), as your committing room in your property to housing it, ongoing maintenance required, facilities like power and perhaps data cabling or wifi etc. You also have to deal with the right to modify the property and any Council regulations, approvals, etc. If your renting it is out of the question probably, and owners may have to deal with demolition prior to selling the property (not many buyers are seeking tacky DIY observatories), and good luck removing that pier footing.
The set up and take down people have a much easier set of hurdles to enjoying astronomy, based on my experience having done it both ways. The portable option also facilitates astro dark site trips , as you already have the practice and equipped necessary.
That said, as an old guy, an observatory is nice to have (now that it is already there), and I am fairly confident that any possible demolition is going to be someone else's problem. Would I build it again now, no, but that is because I am physically unable to do it again, and I have no spouse to complain about that eyesore.
As to the argument that you can leave equipment setup in an observatory, well that is true, but it is also true that said equipment will be subject to climatic fluctuations, constant condensation problems, etc. I find I bring the scopes back inside the house anyway.
Good luck. I support Steve's conclusion, just a different set of problems.
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